A Bunch of Randomness ♥

Hello Friends! ♥

 

Thank you for the nice comments on my last post about old style blogging.  It's nice to know I'm not the only one missing it. Let's get on a mission to bring it back. 

Is "randomness" even a word??  My computer didn't highlight it in red to autocorrect, so I guess it is! 

I was going through my camera roll and my photos taken over the past week are so random I just had to share.  My Dad always makes comments when he sees me taking pictures of seemingly nothing and says "oh am I gonna see this on Facebook??"  No Dad I say..."of course not".  What he doesn't know is the blog is a different story.  

We are all kindred spirits here and I love you that ♥

What do you think about the new addition to my bedroom?  It's an old plant stand that was folded up and buried on our back porch.  I dusted it off and fell in love it with it.  I just got rid of an old glider chair in this corner and had a big empty space waiting to be filled. I decorated it with a plant I got for mother's day, my favorite picture of my parents, some books, a candle, and a basket with a hand knit blanket one of the nurses gave my mom in the hospital.  It's purple, her favorite color.  I think it looks nice.  I will probably change the décor around a hundred times and I'm excited about that.  Of course my mind went right to Christmas because you can best bet there will be lights and a little tree on the top shelf.  Can't wait for that! 

♥ 

I treated myself to some new lip products this week too.  You all know I'm a makeup junkie and nothing makes me happier than new makeup.  This was a little set I picked up at CVS. It wasn't expensive (which also makes me happy- I love a bargain!) and the color is very pretty.  Perfect for going into the warmer weather.  The candle I got for Christmas from my sister and I just moved it into the bathroom.  

It smells like the beach ♥

A rainy day, newspaper, and cup of coffee.  Yes please. 

 I could sit here forever ♥

I had leftover scones from the strawberry shortcake I made mother's day weekend so I froze them.  I had forgotten all about them until one morning it hit me.  The scones! I defrosted two.  Strawberry Jam on one, lemon curd on the other.  I was so happy that day :) 

♥

More bunnies!!  This spring our neighborhood is loaded with them.  We seem them every night.  I'm a little obsessed!  I took a picture of this one and my phone accidently make it look like a watercolor painting.  

I kind of want to frame it  ♥

I snapped a picture of this tree on my walk last night.  I've walked past this tree probably a million times and never noticed it has wisteria growing on it!! I looked up to see a bird and I was so surprised to see all the purple flowers!  You can't tell from this picture, but this is pretty high up.  

It's so lovely! ♥

Ok, so after a month a half I finished my puzzle!  Yay! I didn't work on it consistently.  I enjoyed picking at it here and there, so that's why it took me so long.  It started out as a family project but one by one my family abandoned me.  I was determined to finish it and I did.  I borrowed it from the library so it was a gamble that all the pieces would be there. I'm happy to say my faith in humanity has been restored because all 1000 pieces were in the box. Whew!  It took about 30 seconds to break it up and back to the library it went and on to the next person.  On Saturday I checked out a new one and I'm looking forward to starting it this weekend.  

♥

On Sunday my cousin and his family came by for a visit.  I make this yummy blueberry gallate.  I've posted the recipe before but I'll link it again in case you need a quick dessert.  It's so delicious and looks fancy but it isn't.  You can use any frozen fruit and a frozen puff pastry sheet.  

Rustic Fruit Tart

I also have a video on my YouTube channel from a few years ago of me making this if you want to check it out.  My hair was very short : ) 

I added powdered sugar and a big dollop of whip cream in the middle.  

Cut it like a pizza and enjoy.  

YUM! ♥

This morning after a doctor's appointment my Dad stopped at a bakery and picked up blueberry muffins for us.  Oh how I wish I could start every morning with a freshly baked blueberry muffin.  The best.  

My Dad has a sweet tooth like I do.  We share a love of baked goods and all desserts to be honest with you ♥

I came running when I saw the bakery box : ) 

I'll leave you today with this meme I got from Pinterest.  So true, right?!  I'm adamant I'm not anti-social, but I will admit to being selectively social!  Yes, there is a difference!

Can you relate? 

♥

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you are all having a wonderful week.  It got suddenly hot here (It's 85 today!).  Tomorrow night John has his spring band show performance, which is always a sign that the end of the school year is coming.  And I just realized this weekend is Memorial Day Weekend.  Summer is just around the corner! xo 

S'mores Brownies ♥

Hi Everyone! Happy Memorial Day!

I hope you all are enjoying the long weekend.  I know I am!

We are spending a quiet weekend at home but that doesn't mean we can't celebrate the day, and the unofficial kick off to summer. 

On Saturday I made these yummy s'mores brownies.  If you love making s'mores as much as I do,  you will love these.  You use a box mix and they come together in 5 minutes.  

 I made a quick video to show you how I do it.  I hope you enjoy!!!  ♥

 I'm off to make pasta salad and prep chicken for the grill.  Have a great night friends! 

Thanks for visiting! ♥

Current Favorite Things! ♥

Hello Friends! I hope you all had a nice weekend!

Yesterday I put together this video with some of my current favorite things....beauty, food, and lifestyle!  All links I mention are in the YouTube description. 

I hope you enjoy it! 

Happy Monday everyone! Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a great day! ♥

Crock Pot Sweet & Sour Chicken (video) ♥

Good Morning Friends! 

I hope you all had a restful weekend.  It's the start of a new week already. 

Yesterday I made us another little video.  I pulled out my crock pot and made sweet & sour chicken.  I am trying to be mindful of what I'm cooking these days and using what I have, so this dish was perfect.  It gave us a hearty meal last night with plenty left over for tonight! 

I also give myself a little pep talk.  Give it a watch if you need one too! :)

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Sending good vibes for a good week ahead! 

 ♥

Link to the recipe (here)

Thanks for visiting (and watching! :) 

For all you coffee lovers out there...♥

Hello Friends!  

I hope this new week finds you well and you are adjusting to life as we know it.  I think it's so important right now to cling to the little things that bring us the most comfort. For me is soft pajamas, cozy slippers, and a nice HOT cup of coffee.  

Yesterday morning I recorded a quick video to share a little tip for all you coffee lovers out there.  I debated posting it because I was in my pajamas ( I don't know what I was thinking?).  I have quarantine brain : )  But this is life right now, so I'm going for it.  

♥ 

Now that I've gotten adjusted (somewhat) to life in quarantine I'm hoping to be making more videos and posting on here more regularly.  

If you haven't already please visit my youtube channel (here). 

Thank you for stopping by and keeping in touch! 

It's a beautiful day today and Spring is happening.  There is still good in the world.  

Let's be safe and stay positive ♥

The New Normal...how's everyone doing?

Hello Friends! 

Today I wanted to check in with everyone and see how you all are doing.  I hope you all are home, safe, and feeling good.  We are feeling OK.  Yes a bit stressed (like everyone else) but trying to stay positive.  We are trying to keep as normal of a routine as possible. I don't watch the news as much as I used to because I found watching it was just making me more anxious.  I check in a few times a day to get updates, otherwise I'm not listening.  

I am grateful to be able to work from home.  It's taken a few days to get organized and accept the situation, but ...we are all in this together, we are all working together, and we will make it through this!  

And so... if I have to be self quarantined I'm grateful it's at home with my family.  John is home from school until at least April 7th and we are hearing it might be longer.  We have officially entered the world of "online learning".  It's new for us but we are getting used to it. I keep telling John this is a time his kids will be reading about in the history books someday.  

Here is our homeschooling situation we set up in the basement.  It's not bad.  Organization is the key, right?  He's been great about doing his daily assignments so they don't pile up.  Also, it's familiar and normal for him, and right now familiar and normal is comforting.

My grocery shopping experience on Friday was insane.  I have not stocked up on things. I buy weekly.  Maybe that's just me hoping for the best. Also me not having a place to store large quantities of things.  I felt like I was being swallowed up by all the crazy shoppers pushing me around the store.  

It was madness. 

And before you ask, YES the toilet paper isle was empty.  Luckily I wasn't desperate, but some people were, and they were not happy.  It was very disconcerting.  

So did I grab a few extra things? Yes I did.  

Important things like ice cream and carbs.  

I have my priorities! 

That whole ordeal had me a bit shaken, but then all things were put into perspective when  I got home and saw this...

Daffodils are sprouting.  Spring is coming.  Life continues.  I was so happy : )

And so this is our new normal for a while and it's ok.  We are doing our part to stop this horrible thing that's happening in our world right now.  For my own personal health I have decided that when possible (if the weather allows) to get myself out for a walk, maintaining social distancing of course, daily.  

I did this yesterday and it felt SO GOOD! 

Play games, watch movies, let yourself eat snacks and enjoy them.  Go for walks if you can.  Fresh air does wonders.  Take naps. Read.  Stay safe & healthy.  

Also, laughter helps.  The next day my husband texted me this photo.

We have struck gold! : )

Hang in there everyone!  I'm thinking of you all!! xoxo

PS - HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY!!!!  Did you think I forget? 

I've made two of these Irish Breads this week.  Here is the recipe if you would like to make it

  (click me).  

Last weekend I made this video of me sharing the recipe. 

Enjoy! 

Happy Monday! ♥

Hello Friends! Happy Monday! 

I hope you all had a nice weekend~ 

I don't know about you, but daylight savings is kicking my butt today.  I was soooo tired this morning.  It always takes a few days to adjust to the lost hour of sleep on Saturday night. The good news we have extended daylight!  Last night the sun set at 6:45pm! It was really nice. It made being tired a little less annoying because I know what's coming.  Spring!  

It's all in the process of the season's changing.  Time marches on.   I'll be ditching the winter coat soon.  I hope! : ) 

I ended up having to run out on Saturday to drop John off at a friends house.  While I was out I decided to run a few errands and I made a little video in the process.  It was my first time "vlogging" out in the world.  This was a total experiment for me and I have to say I rather enjoyed it.  It's nothing too exciting...just at trip to the library, Target, and a few other random places.  

Please take a watch and I hope you enjoy it! 

Have a great day everyone!  

Byeee! xoox 

Rustic Fruit Tart ♥ (video)

Hi Everyone! 

 I'm back today with another YouTube video. I'm really enjoying making these videos for you guys and sloooowly but surely I'm starting to feel more comfortable in front of the camera 😉

This week I decided to make this rustic fruit tart.  I've made it many times before and is one of my favorite recipes. Let's just say I love anything involving puff pastry : ) 

♥

I have to say I also love anything that can be called "rustic" don't you?  It means it can look anyway you want and still be considered charming.  How can you go wrong?  

This recipe uses store bought puff pastry and frozen fruit...any kind you want.  In the past I've used mostly berries (blueberries, strawberries, & blackberries) and it's come out delicious.  This time I used a mix that was heavy on peaches, pineapple, grapes, and cherries.  It came out amazing!!  The peaches and brown sugar were a match made in heaven  ♥

Please take a look at my video and let me know what you think.  

If you like it and want to see more, please subscribe to my channel.  

I am trying to post at least one video a week ♥

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Here's a link to my original post with the recipe and all the instructions. 

I hope you enjoy it!!  ♥

rustic fruit tart  

Happy Thursday, friends!  I hope you have a great day! 

Tomorrow is Friday already!! : ) 

Valentine's Day Series: Garlic is LOVE ♥

Hello Friends!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!  It was a cold and snowy one in my neck of the woods.  We had a mini storm on Saturday evening which resulted in me staying home all day Sunday, cooking & puttering around the house.  I love snow on Sundays when I know I can stay indoors : ) 

My original plan for today was to repost a recipe I made last year for Julia Child's chocolate mousse (it's smooth, creamy, and very French....so lovely ♥) but I got a little sidetracked.  Yesterday during my "snow day" I made a big pot of French Onion Soup.  While that was bubbling away I whipped up a batch of these garlic monkey bread rolls.  I posted the picture on social media and a few of you were asking for the recipe so I thought I would post that instead.

And let's face it GARLIC has just as big of a place in my heart as CHOCOLATE (they are pretty much tied!) so I feel it's an appropriate Valentine's Day post.  As long as everybody has one, we're good.  Am I right?! 

While making the rolls I picked up my phone and shot a short 5 minute video of me making them.  It's a little cringy, but I'm trying to get better at it  :) 

And if you are at all interested in my recipe for French Onion Soup I have it posted on my Instagram Stories under highlights.  It's very simple! (the secret ingredient is red wine ♥)

Here is the link to the original blog post I published last June with step by step instructions for the rolls 

(click here) and pleeeease enjoy this video. 

If you like it, please subscribe.  I hope to be doing more in the future! 

Thanks so much! XO 

I will be back soon with that yummy chocolate mousse I mentioned earlier!

Have a great day!

Stay cozy ♥

How I Prepare Acorn Squash ♥

Hello Friends! Happy Monday! 

I hope you all had a nice weekend ♥

Last night on a whim I decided to make a quick video while I was making dinner.  I shared with you how I like to prepare acorn squash.  

Squash is one of my favorite fall/winter veggies!  I eat it all different ways but here's a simple method I do the most.  

After cutting and seeding the squash, I steam it in the microwave.  After it's cooked I add butter, cinnamon, a tiny dash of nutmeg and a sprinkle of BROWN SUGAR (which I forgot to show you in the video : ) and pop it into the oven to get all melty and delicious.

  The brown sugar will give the squash and extra added sweetness, so try not to forget it like I did! 

♥

Once it's done just take a fork and dig right in!  It's a great side dish.  Last night I made meatloaf with potatoes & onions, broccoli, salad, and squash! It had been raining all day so this was the perfect October comfort meal.  

♥

Please forgive my bad lighting and wonky camera skills.  I'm still getting used to this!  

I hope you enjoy this little video and have a great day!!!

xoxo

I made a little video : )

Hello Everyone! 

This past weekend we went apple picking.  It is one of our favorite days of the season! 

For some reason I decided to film a little video.  I downloaded an app on my phone to edit it so it's a little wonky.  I honestly don't know how YouTube vloggers do this all time.  

Besides the fact that I felt pretty cringy talking into my phone! 😛 LOL

I uploaded it to my YouTube channel (and I may delete it later) but for now here it is....

Thank you for watching and I hope you enjoyed that little sneak peek into my day!

Have a great week everyone!  XO